In the last few years, my mom—one of those older, Jewish Florida residents we hear so much about—has suffered a severe political devolution. I'm not sure whether it's the result of sabotage committed by her long-time, wingnut boyfriend or the jadedness nurtured by Bush's disastrous presidency, but she has deteriorated from a committed Democrat to an apathetic, apolitical cynic. Over the last few years, she has lost faith in the process, the politicians and her party. She no longer distinguishes between Democrat and Republican, and she no longer exercises her civic duty to vote.
Even today, with all the pressing issues that put her grandkids' future in peril, she lacks the motivation to visit the polls.
Despite this, I foolishly thought I could lean on her to support Barack Obama. Even though the Florida primary did not count at the time, I was naively confident I could convince her to send a message at the polls. But she wouldn't listen to the powerful case I pleaded. Why should she trust Obama? He's a politician, after all. She insisted that she could not waste her time voting. And she didn't.
Then I believed she might come around with the renewed urgency of the general election. Even in the face of McCain's frighteningly disgusting campaign, though, she wouldn't budge.
She was so disaffected, none of the compelling reasons I threw at her resonated:
- Not preventing her grandkids from being drafted into a McCain war against Iran, Venezuela or Russia
- Not saving her grandkids' schools from total atrophy
- Not preserving her grandkids' opportunity to attend college
- Not rescuing America from its plunge into third-world status
- Not even the foreboding specter of four more years
None of it seemed to matter to my mom. Even the powerful "what about your grandchildren?" card fell on deaf ears. By last month, she wouldn't even entertain my pleas, and she would cut me off at the first syllable. I was ready to chalk her up to "lost cause."
Three days ago, though, I had an epiphany. It was so simple and obvious, I don't known why it didn't occur to me sooner. I didn't need to sell her on Barack; I just needed to introduce her to Sarah.
You see, my mom's one sacred cow (no pun intended) is animal rights. She has been a member of PETA for as long as I can remember and, despite her detachment from politics, she still actively supports this cause.
Recognizing that, like many of her peers, my mom easily falls prey to anything in e-mail format, I sent her the following:
Ima [diarist's note: that's Hebrew for "mom"],
After you read this, please ask yourself, "Why does Sarah Palin hate animals?"
I know you're busy and hate politics, so I'll will summarize the contents of the article for your convenience:
Sarah Palin fought hard to preserve Alaskan laws that permitted "airborne hunting." Not only did she preserve this practice, which violates federal law, but she encouraged it--she offered a $150 bounty for each wolf killed.
Sarah Palin argues that Alaskans should be permitted to shoot animals from a plane, as it helps preserve the moose and caribou populations. The reason she's so interested in protecting moose and caribou is because she thinks they are delicious. As she put it, they allow the plane-borne shooters "to put healthy food on their families' dinner tables."
She also has a vendetta against polar bears. She went so far as to sue the federal government over the Interior Department's decision to list polar bears as "endangered." As far as I know, the only polar bears in the US live in the state she governs. Does she want to shoot polar bears from a plane too? Or would she eat them?
In the same vein, Sarah Palin does not believe global warming is man-made or a threat to polar bears and their environment. As a matter of fact, she calls such a notion a "crock."
Let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to receiving your commitment to help stop this monster from being one old, senile John McCain away from becoming president. All you have to do is cast your vote for Barack Obama on November 4.
Love,
"Bob"
Her reply:
Thanks "Bob,"
You got my vote.
You see it only takes the right spots in my heart to get my vote you can always count on children and animals to do it.
I might go to the library before the 4th.
Love, Ima
Wow, that was easy. Florida has early voting, hence her seemingly random library reference. Had you told me last month that my mom was casting an early vote for Obama, I would've given you a trademark McCain eye-roll.
So, back to my original point. One of my biggest and only regrets about leaving Florida last year is that I would be leaving an opportunity to begin redeeming my impetuous Ralph Nader vote. I hope my role in my mom's conversion can be one tiny step towards eventual redemption.
cross-posted on MYDD